Egypt's capital, Cairo is a huge bustling city of over 15 million people. It is also a city of contrasts where skyscrapers tower above donkey carts.

All of the roofs are flat - no rain to run off - and many apartment blocks appear unfinished as steel reinforcing rods protrude from the rooftop.

For the visitor, there is much to see, including several museums, the Citadel with its commanding view of Cairo, the huge Khan el Khalili bazaar, and of course the Pyramids and Sphinx at nearby Giza.

Security is everywhere. Following a number of atrocities in the 1990s, when several tourists were murdered, Egypt has taken the safety of its visitors very seriously. In Cairo there are armed policeman on every street corner.

The Nile cuts through the city, and on the island of Gezira the Cairo tower provides paroramic view from its 180m (600ft) observation platform.

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